1201-1213 Douglas Street – the Sayward Building

Downtown Victoria Tour

Douglas Street – 1200 Block

Sayward Building

The Sayward Building was built in 1911 by architect George C. Mesher for Joseph Sayward (1862-1934), one of Victoria’s prominent business leaders of the period.

The original building permit, issued to Joseph Sayward by the City of Victoria in June 1910, describes a “new reinforced concrete building, 56 rooms” for use as “stores and offices” with an estimated construction cost of $100,000.

The Sayward Building was built in 1910-11 by architect George C. Mesher for Joseph A. Sayward, who intended it as stores and offices. It has always maintained that configuration, with commercial space on the main, or street, level and offices in the upper floors.

The Sayward Building is one of three downtown Victoria office buildings which George C. Mesher designed in the period 1910-1913. The other two are the former Metropolis Hotel (now provincial government offices) at 718 Yates Street and the Pemberton Block (now the Yarrow Building) at the corner of Fort Street and Broad Street.